October 9, 2025

Seven peace organizations in Miyagi Prefecture on October 7 demanded that Governor Murai Yoshihiro urge the national government to remove Sendai Airport from the list of “specific-use airports” that the Self-Defense Forces can use for training exercises and other purposes during peacetime in preparation for emergencies.

They also demanded that the local government refuse to consent to the national government designation of the prefecture-managed Sendai Shiogama Port as a specific-use seaport.

Japanese Communist Party members of the Miyagi Prefectural Assembly Kaneta Motoru and Fujiwara Masuei accompanied them.

Sato Haruji of the local Action Committee against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty (Anpo-Haki), one of the seven organizations, explained that local residents feel uneasy about Sendai Airport being designated as a “specific-use airport” given the fact that the integration of the SDF with the U.S. military is increasing under the national security-related legislation (aka war laws). He pointed out that takeoff-and-landing training exercises at the airport involving fighter jets would affect many passengers and visitors, yet the local residents have not been given any explanation. He said to the governor, “You should press the national government to hold public briefing sessions.”